House Republicans’ Losing & Dangerous Strategy

Republicans continue to surprise us with their dedication to risking a government shutdown and holding our economy hostage, rather than compromising and getting something done.

Here’s their plan for government funding, described by POLITICO – and why it won’t work:

“House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor are playing the last cards in their hand — and they’re most likely losers.”

“Now, the leadership is tacking hard to the right — a provision defunding Obamacare in the $988 billion spending bill — in a move to get 217 House Republican votes and put the heat on Senate Republicans to filibuster any government funding package that doesn’t derail the Affordable Care Act.”

“The more likely scenario is that Washington goes through a fall filled with false starts and near catastrophe. Boehner privately realizes it: Last week, he told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) it would be difficult to find the votes to pass a government funding bill on his own.”

And here’s their equally unrealistic plan on the debt limit that POLITICO outlines – and why it won’t work either:

“Boehner and the GOP leadership will spend the next two weeks crafting a plan to raise the nation’s borrowing limit that will include piles of conservative goodies. Basically, if a Republican lawmaker has an idea for what should be included, leadership will throw it in.”

“The options include jump-starting construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, major structural reforms to entitlement programs like Medicare and Medicaid, an outline of tax reform principles and rolling back environmental regulations.”

“If rank-and-file House Republicans think their leaders will hold strong against Obama’s refusal to negotiate on the debt ceiling, they very well could take that to mean Boehner, Cantor and McCarthy will resist lifting the cap until Obama is at his desk in the Oval Office, ready to sign the bill to delay Obamacare. Most people in D.C. think that moment is unlikely to occur.”

Maybe they’d like a magic unicorn too?

Republicans have clearly decided reality has no impact on their decision making.